Handicapped by our values?

Stephanie

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Jul 11, 2004
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By John E. Carey
August 16, 2006


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Our Declaration of Independence separates us from terrorists.
We Americans believe that man, in fact all mankind, has an expectation, a right, to life. We believe this is an "unalienable right," in fact a sacred right not granted by man but by a higher power, our Creator, and incapable of repudiation. The right to life cannot be taken by another man.
The terrorists don't believe we, or any man, apparently, has an expectation to life. The terrorist have shown they can commit, intend to commit and are committed to intentional, indiscriminate killing of innocent strangers. What greater disparity could there be in the beliefs between the terrorists and ourselves? Americans see themselves as men with rights "endowed by their Creator." Terrorists see America as "the Great Satan." There is a gap, in fact an abyss, in values and moral mindset between America and the terrorists.
What makes this so devious, so desperately troubling, is that part of the terrorist movement has, will have or wants nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The actions of the terrorists to date tell us they are released from our inhibitions to kill indiscriminately by using nuclear weapons and other WMD.
And the terrorists are encouraged, fueled and even driven toward using WMD by the likes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, various imams, mosques, madrassas, political activists and others. In fact, throughout Pakistan and other Muslim nations, terror has superceded a religion. This means, for the terrorists, all treaties, all normal forms of the so called "laws of war," and all the normal underpinnings of negotiation are off the table.
We need to think very carefully about what this means for the United States and the Western World and where we go from here. The terrorists are:

• Using liquid explosives carried aboard in hand luggage in their planning to destroy hundreds of passengers in airliners. This since 1995, and it continues.
• Using aircraft as weapons (in the United States on September 11, 2001) and bombing trains and buses (Britain's July 7, 2005, and Madrid on March 11, 2004).
• Using Katyusha rockets to bombard Haifa and other targets in Israel. These unguided rockets are intentionally and indiscriminately killing innocent civilians. Close to 4,000 of these have been used to date; with 250 fired into Israel on Sunday within 24 hours of a U.N. "cease-fire."
To put this in a nutshell, Israel, has been using a conventional military force bound by restrictions on the indiscriminate killing of civilians, to find and kill people lobbing unguided rockets into their civilian population with no restrictions on indiscriminate killing; a kind of asymmetric warfare of the most heinous sort.
The U.N. and the media view the opposing forces through a single prism of values: both are brother nations of the world. In fact, there seems to be a media bias toward Hezbollah (not a nation at all). And Kofi Annan wasted no time in saying Israel "intentionally" killed U.N. observers during the conflict.
The terrorists, media and the United Nations tend to handcuff the West within its own values even more, while the other side feels empowered. Reuters news service participated in the chicanery last week by publishing doctored photos detrimental to Israel. And the screaming rhetoric of Al Jazeera reminds us that the other side doesn't play by the same rules as the West -- freedom of the press without checks and balances.
In a story in the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 1, Ashraf Khalil detailed how the Israelis also call innocent civilians' cell phones to warn them of impending danger due to military action. Even while dropping leaflets to warn civilians, Israel has moved humanitarian care to a new level, but has been given little credit.
• On Aug. 10, former Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is working on nuclear weapons and "eventually after crying wolf, you face the wolf, and this wolf has nuclear teeth, and it will bite, of that I'm sure."
This is the same President Ahmadinejad that appeared on "60 Minutes" Aug. 13, claiming the U.N. was only serving U.S. needs; said last autumn that the Jewish state had to be wiped off the Earth; defies the United Nations while he does nuclear research that most experts believe is intended to make a nuclear bomb. This is the same Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who arms Hezbollah and develops his own long range ballistic missiles.
A few days ago, Bernard Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "During the Cold War, both sides possessed weapons of mass destruction, but neither side used them, deterred by what was known as MAD, mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints have no doubt prevented their use in the confrontation between India and Pakistan."
The question: Are terrorists deterred by their own potential destruction, when they already act as suicide bombers? Stated clearer, once one is released from the belief in life, as stated in our Declaration of Independence, how may he be effectively confronted and countered? What binds the terrorists is the religion of intentional, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians. No true religion can underwrite this thinking.
What binds us, the Western democracies, first and foremost, is the belief all men have a right to life. As so eloquently stated in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, all mankind are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
From the terrorist perspective, terrorism is war against democracies and life. It is meant to cause death, suffering and anguish among civilian masses in pursuit of political gain.
Given the chasm in values between mass killers and people firmly adhering to the right to life (and a lot of other rights), it seems the Patriot Act, National Security agency eavesdropping and restrictions on liquids aboard aircraft are minor indeed.
This conundrum of belief between terrorism and America -- in fact, the West -- must consequently alter how we view and wage this war on terror in the future. Before Iran has a nuclear weapon, we might rethink our values and moral restrictions or ask ourselves how many lives would we be ready to lose.

This was written by someone else, but it's the way I'm feeling

John E. Carey is the former president of International Defense Consultants Inc.
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060815-094230-5612r_page2.htm
 
By John E. Carey
August 16, 2006


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Our Declaration of Independence separates us from terrorists.
We Americans believe that man, in fact all mankind, has an expectation, a right, to life. We believe this is an "unalienable right," in fact a sacred right not granted by man but by a higher power, our Creator, and incapable of repudiation. The right to life cannot be taken by another man.
The terrorists don't believe we, or any man, apparently, has an expectation to life. The terrorist have shown they can commit, intend to commit and are committed to intentional, indiscriminate killing of innocent strangers. What greater disparity could there be in the beliefs between the terrorists and ourselves? Americans see themselves as men with rights "endowed by their Creator." Terrorists see America as "the Great Satan." There is a gap, in fact an abyss, in values and moral mindset between America and the terrorists.
What makes this so devious, so desperately troubling, is that part of the terrorist movement has, will have or wants nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The actions of the terrorists to date tell us they are released from our inhibitions to kill indiscriminately by using nuclear weapons and other WMD.
And the terrorists are encouraged, fueled and even driven toward using WMD by the likes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, various imams, mosques, madrassas, political activists and others. In fact, throughout Pakistan and other Muslim nations, terror has superceded a religion. This means, for the terrorists, all treaties, all normal forms of the so called "laws of war," and all the normal underpinnings of negotiation are off the table.
We need to think very carefully about what this means for the United States and the Western World and where we go from here. The terrorists are:

• Using liquid explosives carried aboard in hand luggage in their planning to destroy hundreds of passengers in airliners. This since 1995, and it continues.
• Using aircraft as weapons (in the United States on September 11, 2001) and bombing trains and buses (Britain's July 7, 2005, and Madrid on March 11, 2004).
• Using Katyusha rockets to bombard Haifa and other targets in Israel. These unguided rockets are intentionally and indiscriminately killing innocent civilians. Close to 4,000 of these have been used to date; with 250 fired into Israel on Sunday within 24 hours of a U.N. "cease-fire."
To put this in a nutshell, Israel, has been using a conventional military force bound by restrictions on the indiscriminate killing of civilians, to find and kill people lobbing unguided rockets into their civilian population with no restrictions on indiscriminate killing; a kind of asymmetric warfare of the most heinous sort.
The U.N. and the media view the opposing forces through a single prism of values: both are brother nations of the world. In fact, there seems to be a media bias toward Hezbollah (not a nation at all). And Kofi Annan wasted no time in saying Israel "intentionally" killed U.N. observers during the conflict.
The terrorists, media and the United Nations tend to handcuff the West within its own values even more, while the other side feels empowered. Reuters news service participated in the chicanery last week by publishing doctored photos detrimental to Israel. And the screaming rhetoric of Al Jazeera reminds us that the other side doesn't play by the same rules as the West -- freedom of the press without checks and balances.
In a story in the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 1, Ashraf Khalil detailed how the Israelis also call innocent civilians' cell phones to warn them of impending danger due to military action. Even while dropping leaflets to warn civilians, Israel has moved humanitarian care to a new level, but has been given little credit.
• On Aug. 10, former Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is working on nuclear weapons and "eventually after crying wolf, you face the wolf, and this wolf has nuclear teeth, and it will bite, of that I'm sure."
This is the same President Ahmadinejad that appeared on "60 Minutes" Aug. 13, claiming the U.N. was only serving U.S. needs; said last autumn that the Jewish state had to be wiped off the Earth; defies the United Nations while he does nuclear research that most experts believe is intended to make a nuclear bomb. This is the same Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who arms Hezbollah and develops his own long range ballistic missiles.
A few days ago, Bernard Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "During the Cold War, both sides possessed weapons of mass destruction, but neither side used them, deterred by what was known as MAD, mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints have no doubt prevented their use in the confrontation between India and Pakistan."
The question: Are terrorists deterred by their own potential destruction, when they already act as suicide bombers? Stated clearer, once one is released from the belief in life, as stated in our Declaration of Independence, how may he be effectively confronted and countered? What binds the terrorists is the religion of intentional, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians. No true religion can underwrite this thinking.
What binds us, the Western democracies, first and foremost, is the belief all men have a right to life. As so eloquently stated in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, all mankind are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
From the terrorist perspective, terrorism is war against democracies and life. It is meant to cause death, suffering and anguish among civilian masses in pursuit of political gain.
Given the chasm in values between mass killers and people firmly adhering to the right to life (and a lot of other rights), it seems the Patriot Act, National Security agency eavesdropping and restrictions on liquids aboard aircraft are minor indeed.
This conundrum of belief between terrorism and America -- in fact, the West -- must consequently alter how we view and wage this war on terror in the future. Before Iran has a nuclear weapon, we might rethink our values and moral restrictions or ask ourselves how many lives would we be ready to lose.

This was written by someone else, but it's the way I'm feeling

John E. Carey is the former president of International Defense Consultants Inc.
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060815-094230-5612r_page2.htm


It is not those values, despite Chimpy and Co's claims to the contrary, that terrorists attack us for. But that's a whole 'nuther discussion.

If we abandon those values in this so-called "war on terrorism", if our elected leaders turn their backs on these core beliefs upon which America was founded, then we are all diminished. We will have looked into the abyss, and been swallowed by it...We will have become no better than the terrorists.

If we wish the world to stand with us, then we all cleve to those values, especially our elected leaders. If our governments policies are to have any credibility what-so-ever, those values must be the bedrock upon which they are established.

Freedom entails many responsibilities, and there are risks as well. The risk of attack from those such as Al Qaeda is among them. People of courage and integrity do not fear this. They accept that risk, understanding that it is part of the cost of freedom. In the face of such a threat, people of courage and integrity do not surrender their freedoms, nor the values upon which they are built. They bring the perpetrators to justice, within the four corners of the law. They keep the moral high ground, thus assuring others of their intentions and encouraging their willing participation in the international hunt for these animals.

If you are not willing to accept the responsibilities, and risks, freedom entails...Do you really deserve it?
 
Bully, what you say to the President of Iran if you were able to sit acroos the table from him?
What is the liberal solution to take care of President Adolf Ahmadinejad?
This is the man who said he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map, building nuclear weapons to wipe Israel off the face of the map, who says the holocaust is a myth, and running a "art exibit" mocking the holocaust.
Go ahead and tell us how a liberal would solve this problem.
 
I dont think our values handicap us, quite the opposite.

I do think that values of certain members of our population which make them cowards when it comes to preserving ourselves. Ironically, these tend to be the citizens who dont believe the scriptures, yet in whom Christs's prophecy was fulfilled. In the last days the hearts of men shall fail them for fear.
 
It is not those values, despite Chimpy and Co's claims to the contrary, that terrorists attack us for. But that's a whole 'nuther discussion.
That is partially true, our Western values aren't the main reason we are being attacked. Its mainly due to racism against "infidels" stationed in the middle east since the first Gulf War, and also for our blind support for Israel.


If we abandon those values in this so-called "war on terrorism", if our elected leaders turn their backs on these core beliefs upon which America was founded, then we are all diminished. We will have looked into the abyss, and been swallowed by it...We will have become no better than the terrorists.
You mean like in World War II? When we used "WMD" to beat our enemy into submission? When we rounded up Japanese and put them in camps? I guess we were no better than the Japs and Nazis. We had to do some dark things in order to win, but that is war. It does not mean that we are "no better than" our enemies, we come out of the war with our nation entact and better off. History, seems to have already proven your point wrong.


If we wish the world to stand with us, then we all cleve to those values, especially our elected leaders. If our governments policies are to have any credibility what-so-ever, those values must be the bedrock upon which they are established.
Bedrock values like never negotiating with terrorists and terror sponsoring governments? Or compromising? I've yet to hear what the liberal strategy is for the middle east.

Freedom entails many responsibilities, and there are risks as well. The risk of attack from those such as Al Qaeda is among them. People of courage and integrity do not fear this. They accept that risk, understanding that it is part of the cost of freedom. In the face of such a threat, people of courage and integrity do not surrender their freedoms, nor the values upon which they are built. They bring the perpetrators to justice, within the four corners of the law. They keep the moral high ground, thus assuring others of their intentions and encouraging their willing participation in the international hunt for these animals.
I see, so you know whats best for every American. You don't want the American to be able to choose to give up some conveniences to ensure the safety of their lives? Exactly what freedoms haven been given up in this fight against terror anyway? Can you name one Constitutional freedom you no longer have?
 
Bully, what you say to the President of Iran if you were able to sit acroos the table from him?
What is the liberal solution to take care of President Adolf Ahmadinejad?
This is the man who said he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map, building nuclear weapons to wipe Israel off the face of the map, who says the holocaust is a myth, and running a "art exibit" mocking the holocaust.
Go ahead and tell us how a liberal would solve this problem.

Since Iranian moderates were making gains before Chimpy McPresident started his bellicose rhetoric about Iran being part of "the axis of evil" and now the world has to deal with Ahmadinejad, I would suggest doing exactly the opposite of whatever Chimpy and Co's stance is.
 
Ask FORMER Sen Tom Daschel what being a total obstructionist will get you.

How about the political unemployment line?

You just confirmed the entire Democrat platform for 2006 and 2008
 
That is partially true, our Western values aren't the main reason we are being attacked. Its mainly due to racism against "infidels" stationed in the middle east since the first Gulf War, and also for our blind support for Israel.



You mean like in World War II? When we used "WMD" to beat our enemy into submission? When we rounded up Japanese and put them in camps? I guess we were no better than the Japs and Nazis. We had to do some dark things in order to win, but that is war. It does not mean that we are "no better than" our enemies, we come out of the war with our nation entact and better off. History, seems to have already proven your point wrong.



Bedrock values like never negotiating with terrorists and terror sponsoring governments? Or compromising? I've yet to hear what the liberal strategy is for the middle east.


I see, so you know whats best for every American. You don't want the American to be able to choose to give up some conveniences to ensure the safety of their lives? Exactly what freedoms haven been given up in this fight against terror anyway? Can you name one Constitutional freedom you no longer have?


For detailed list, go here:

<center><a href=http://www.aclunc.org/911/scorecard.html><img src=http://www.aclunc.org/911/scorecard.jpg></a></center>

Old, but still valid.
 
Ask FORMER Sen Tom Daschel what being a total obstructionist will get you.

How about the political unemployment line?

You just confirmed the entire Democrat platform for 2006 and 2008

So, upholding the values laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution is now, "obstructionism"? You really don't understand...I pity you.
 
So, upholding the values laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution is now, "obstructionism"? You really don't understand...I pity you.

I hope Dems run on the "Terrorist Bill of Rights"

It may get you votes in the Middle East but not in Amercia
 
You might want to take notice that all that shit has to do with non-citizens.
"Immigration Rights" being violated, lol. And the other few have soley to do with conspirators of terrorists, and the inconvenience of searches at airports. If you don't like the searches, drive. Cry me a river.
 
So, upholding the values laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution is now, "obstructionism"? You really don't understand...I pity you.

Oh please, the problem is most liberals like yourself have never bothered reading the Constitution or the case law that interprets the various clauses. Take a Con law class if you want to try to lecture me on the Constitution. Of course if you did youd realize your position is wrong on just about everything.
 
It is not those values, despite Chimpy and Co's claims to the contrary, that terrorists attack us for. But that's a whole 'nuther discussion.

If we abandon those values in this so-called "war on terrorism", if our elected leaders turn their backs on these core beliefs upon which America was founded, then we are all diminished. We will have looked into the abyss, and been swallowed by it...We will have become no better than the terrorists.

If we wish the world to stand with us, then we all cleve to those values, especially our elected leaders. If our governments policies are to have any credibility what-so-ever, those values must be the bedrock upon which they are established.

Freedom entails many responsibilities, and there are risks as well. The risk of attack from those such as Al Qaeda is among them. People of courage and integrity do not fear this. They accept that risk, understanding that it is part of the cost of freedom. In the face of such a threat, people of courage and integrity do not surrender their freedoms, nor the values upon which they are built. They bring the perpetrators to justice, within the four corners of the law. They keep the moral high ground, thus assuring others of their intentions and encouraging their willing participation in the international hunt for these animals.

If you are not willing to accept the responsibilities, and risks, freedom entails...Do you really deserve it?

I agree, it's not THOSE values, our freedoms, or even our riches. It's our overwhelming rejection of their religion, values, and goals. We DON'T want their religion or for them to kill us. We reject their desire to subjugate women and kill gays, (whether or not we think they should get married.)
 
Oh please, the problem is most liberals like yourself have never bothered reading the Constitution or the case law that interprets the various clauses. Take a Con law class if you want to try to lecture me on the Constitution. Of course if you did youd realize your position is wrong on just about everything.

You may have read the Constitution and the case law, interpreting it, but did you truly understand it? I think not. You may know the words, but their meaning is lost on you.
 
It is not those values, despite Chimpy and Co's claims to the contrary, that terrorists attack us for. But that's a whole 'nuther discussion.

Bullshit.

If we abandon those values in this so-called "war on terrorism", if our elected leaders turn their backs on these core beliefs upon which America was founded, then we are all diminished. We will have looked into the abyss, and been swallowed by it...We will have become no better than the terrorists.

Bullshit.

If we wish the world to stand with us, then we all cleve to those values, especially our elected leaders. If our governments policies are to have any credibility what-so-ever, those values must be the bedrock upon which they are established.

Bullshit.

Freedom entails many responsibilities, and there are risks as well. The risk of attack from those such as Al Qaeda is among them. People of courage and integrity do not fear this. They accept that risk, understanding that it is part of the cost of freedom. In the face of such a threat, people of courage and integrity do not surrender their freedoms, nor the values upon which they are built. They bring the perpetrators to justice, within the four corners of the law. They keep the moral high ground, thus assuring others of their intentions and encouraging their willing participation in the international hunt for these animals.

Bullshit.

If you are not willing to accept the responsibilities, and risks, freedom entails...Do you really deserve it?

Irrelevant, as accepting the responsibilities and risks that freedom entails for YOU has NOTHING to do with accepting fighting a tactical war.

All in all, why'd you bother with this backwards-assed-logic post?
 
You may have read the Constitution and the case law, interpreting it, but did you truly understand it? I think not. You may know the words, but their meaning is lost on you.

This is humor, right? If anyone on this board doesn't understand the Constitution (besides psychoblues), it's YOU. I have YET to see even a single, unbiased post come out of you. EVERYTHING you post is slanted HARD left.

FIrst off, you continually put Bush, his administration and/or Republicans in lose/lose situations with your out-of-context bullshit.

Now you want to compare what suits you as values sitting home in your armchair to having to fight these bastards who not only do not adhere to our holier-than-thou morals (and the only morals libs seem to hold ANYONE to) but exploit the fact that they have a bunch of loony lefties at home insisting our armed forces fight with one arm tied behind their backs.

There's ONE rule of war: WIN. Anything less is a freakin' LOSER.
 
I agree, it's not THOSE values, our freedoms, or even our riches. It's our overwhelming rejection of their religion, values, and goals. We DON'T want their religion or for them to kill us. We reject their desire to subjugate women and kill gays, (whether or not we think they should get married.)

No, that's not it either. America was far less PC and more unabashedly christian in previous decades, and yet we didn't have muslim terrorist threats. The USA = great Satan idea has come about only in relatively recent years, since we began supporting Israel, proping up various dictators, occupying Arabia, blockading Iraq, etc.
 
No, that's not it either. America was far less PC and more unabashedly christian in previous decades, and yet we didn't have muslim terrorist threats. The USA = great Satan idea has come about only in relatively recent years, since we began supporting Israel, proping up various dictators, occupying Arabia, blockading Iraq, etc.

Nah, it's only been in 'recent' years that they could threaten the West to this degree, at least since the Barbary times. Iran started it, my guess Iran or US will finish it. Caliphate or not?
 

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